Letters to the Editor

Local ‘Journey Stories’ sought

Written by Kay Grinde, member, The National Smithsonian Leadership Committee
Friday, 15 June 2012 13:48

Cozad’s Aug. 30 opening of the National Smithsonian Exhibit “Journey Stories” is quickly approaching. People visiting the 100th Meridian Museum from Aug. 30 to Oct. 6 will be able to view and experience journey stories that have made our country what it is today. This is an exciting time because we all have the opportunity to also become part of the exhibit by sharing our own journey stories.

“Journey Stories” notebooks have been placed in the public libraries in Cozad, Elwood, Gothenburg, and Lexington and in the Senior Centers in Eustis and Overton. Whether you were born in another country or just another state, share the journey that brought you to your current home. The notebooks provide information to help you get started writing or telling your journey story and people to call if you want help.

The exhibit will close on Oct. 6, but the local journey stories will become permanent records of the 100th Meridian Museum. Journey stories are encouraged prior to the Exhibit but may still be submitted during the Exhibit and after it closes.

Rights being lost under Obama

Written by Neil A. Davis, Gothenburg
Thursday, 14 June 2012 13:52

In a 2001 radio interview, Barack Obama spoke about failures of the Warren court during the civil rights movement. He said “...generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties” (what government can’t do to you, not what it must do on your behalf). He lamented that the Supreme Court never ventured into redistribution of wealth and political and economic justice in society.

Hundreds of years ago, the founders saw Obama coming and intentionally limited intrusive federal powers like these in the Constitution. Read Frederic Bastiat’s “The Law” at (bastiat.org/en/the_law.html). Learn why we have laws and why socialism must inevitably degenerate into communism.

Obama dislikes not having a federal mandate to “do to you.” Joe Knoedler (02-22-12) thinks Obama should have that power and characterizes him as “...someone who understands the middle class and will fight for...me and my future family...” As a Marxist socialist, Obama “understands the middle class” is his enemy. He wants it eliminated by killing off capitalism. I would like Knoedler to explain to me how Obama’s attempt to destroy the First Amendment shows understanding for the middle class (or any class).

Knoedler in his second letter (03-07-12) wrote “...those of the religious community sometimes forget that little part of the Constitution claiming the separation of church and state.” There is no such claim in the Constitution. What the First Amendment states is “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...”

Both statements are protection for the people. Government can’t form a state religion (what colonists fled from in England) and government can’t interfere with established religion. However, through Obamacare “the secretary shall” and has mandated religious employers to provide health insurance that covers contraception, sterilization and abortifacient drugs.

This is a direct violation of Catholic tenets. The Archdiocese of New York, the University of Notre Dame and over 40 other plaintiffs filed a dozen separate federal lawsuits against the requirement.

In his 2012 State of the Union speech Obama announced “If you make more than one million dollars a year, you should not pay less than 30% in taxes…you shouldn’t get special tax subsidies or deductions.” Looking at his 2010 tax return we see that he made over $1.7 million and paid less than 26% in taxes, while taking over $373,000 in deductions. I guess his “Buffet rule” applies to everyone but him. Hypocrisy? While his talk is about millionaires and billionaires, the policies include business owners making $250,000 (middle class).

Some of the idiots in the Occupy Wall Street movement believe they can’t get good paying jobs because there is no money left. Rich people have taken it all. Obama encourages this line of thinking (attacking the evil rich gets votes). At the same time he thinks government can create money supply just by printing it. This man was elected POTUS because of the belief that Democrats are masterminds of economics? This stupidity must be voted out in November.

President oversteps powers

Written by Neil A. Davis, Gothenburg
Thursday, 17 May 2012 14:15

Joe Knoedler (02-22-12) asks “What is wrong with giving people...the ability to attain higher education and giving people who were born here legally the path to citizenship?” Congress (taxpayers) began subsidizing student loan interest in 2007. The rates were temporary and now Congress is fighting over how to pay for the increase as they revert back (double). No one warned students this was going to happen. Thanks Uncle Sam! People born here legally don’t need a path to citizenship. It is guaranteed them by the 14th amendment.

Knoedler believes I have “...taken our president out of context.” and wonders what my motives are, because I stated that Obama in reference to the economy said, “If Congress won’t get it done I will.” Trouble is, that’s not the quote I used. “And where Congress is not willing to act, we’re going to go ahead and do it ourselves”. He got two words out of 17 (by luck it seems).

An advanced Google search of his exact quote, produces nine links to his own letter on The Times website and nine on a Yahoo message board. Most likely Obama never said it. The same search of my exact quote produces over 10,000 results. The first one is a realclearpolitics page where you can view a video of Obama speaking the quote (in context).

The bottom line (my motive) is, the president has no authority to act without Congress in most matters. But he is doing it anyway (acts of a dictator). The powers of the executive branch are set forth in Article. II. Section. 2. & Section. 3. of the Constitution. Frankly, these powers are rather limited. The president is commander in chief of the armed forces. He can grant pardons. He can make treaties and appoint ambassadors, judges and other officials, but only with the advice and consent of the Senate. He can fill vacancies, but only during the recess of the Senate. He has the power of the veto and signs bills (passed by Congress) into law.

Where does he get the power to impose a moratorium against U.S. deep water drilling in the gulf of Mexico? I don’t know. Neither does the federal judge who has ordered him to cease. While ignoring the federal court order, he extended multi-billion dollar loans to Brazil and Mexico so they can get the oil.

He is attempting to delay a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline until after the election (every decision hinges on his re-election). Opponents of the pipeline say the oil would be exported anyway. How does that help us? Supply and demand still controls the price. More oil…lower prices. Shouldn’t we be able to negotiate contracts on oil produced here (belonging to us) that insure conditions favorable to our needs (traditionally low gas prices) before other buyers are considered? I think we should be selling as much oil to China as possible (at world market prices). It would be one way to pay off our debt.

Hospital election concerns

Written by Jackie Anderson, Gothenburg
Thursday, 10 May 2012 14:23

I have great concerns about the upcoming election for the hospital board. Three of the six candidates on the roster for election are either doctors or hospital employees. I consider this a significant ethical concern for our hospital.

This hospital board will be hiring a new administrator whose responsibility it will be to direct the day-to-day operations of the hospital. Among these responsibilities is resolving issues among staff members and protecting the interests of the hospital in any legal issues. How could an administrator maintain impartiality when the people he could be censoring are part of the board that has the power to fire him? A clear conflict of interest is at issue!

Please note that this is in no way an attempt to impugn the reputations of any medical professionals in our community. I have great respect for the medical staff in our community having been involved in recruiting Dr. Matzke and selecting local doctors for our personal medical care needs. We are very fortunate to have a skilled set of professionals and a progressive facility in our community. My goal is to have this continue into the next generations.

I would like to propose an alternative write-in choice for the upcoming vote, my husband Gregg Anderson. He is experienced as a board member, having served as a school board secretary/treasurer for several years at New Hope School, the rural school our children attended, and also as a former council member for Zion Lutheran Church. He has been a location manager at All Points Cooperative for the past seven years and a parent and lifetime community member.

I am fully aware that a write-in candidate has a very slim chance of election so I would also like to propose that this practice be investigated. I am told that this is not a breach of the by-laws of the hospital; however, I would encourage the district patrons to speak with board members to change the by-laws to reflect a policy that does not allow persons with a financial interest in hospital issues to be elected to the board.

In closing, discuss this matter with your friends and neighbors and reflect on the issues at hand prior to voting. I would urge you to write in Gregg Anderson for the hospital board.

Liberal use of language

Written by Jack Ostergard, Gothenburg
Friday, 04 May 2012 13:44

It appears to me the Republican senatorial candidates from Nebraska are using the word conservatism liberally.

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